Ever dreamed of living overseas, experiencing new cultures, and embarking on international adventures? Becoming a global expat might be the answer. But, with this lifestyle comes the need to quickly adapt to new surroundings. In the digital age, mobile apps have become a lifesaver for many expats. Remember those days when you relied on hefty guidebooks and giant paper maps? Today, with just a tap, you can find your way around any city. For an expat, be it an Indian or any other, understanding the landscape of a new city is crucial, and mobile apps make it seamless. No matter if you want to send money to India to your loved ones, book a taxi, search for a nearby hospital, want to know about grocery stores, and much more - mobile apps ease your life more than you can even think.
Technology has played a significant role in helping migrants navigate their way through the challenges that are integral to an expatriate life abroad. This blog will shed light on the importance of technology and list some of the apps and technologies that global migrants must have.
Reliance on Technology and the Importance of Certain Apps
The world has come a long way from where it was until just a few decades ago. What was a dream some years ago has been integrated into life in a manner that one now fails to imagine life without it.
For example, if one were to ask a Gen-Z representative about a world without easily accessible and lightning-fast internet, they would be bewildered.
Humankind has come to rely on technology in all its possible manifestations, but the kind of reliance migrants have on technology is unparalleled. The reasons are aplenty, but a few are explained briefly below.
Processing Documents and Registration
Many countries in the world have made processing documents for aspiring migrants easy by launching certain apps. People who plan to go abroad can now log onto those apps and process their documents.
If there is no software glitch or anomaly in the documents being processed, there is no reason to visit the concerned office in person.
Similarly, many governments around the world are taking initiatives to make registration easy. And this online registration is not confined to migrants alone. Different domestic departments are also launching similar initiatives.
Connecting and Communicating
Several digital apps and tools have made it easier for global migrants to stay connected with their families and loved ones round-the-clock. It helps them reduce the stress, anxiety, and depression that migrating abroad accompanies.
Recording Precious Moments and Sharing
Many social media apps and platforms have made it easier for migrants to capture or record moments they think are precious and even share those with the public. They can either share those publicly or keep them private as part of their digital memoir.
Educational Purposes
Several digital tools and apps are designed specifically for educational purposes. For migrants, these tools are of critical importance because, through these tools, they can understand the dialects of the host country easily.
Remittance Transfers Back Home
This is one of the most significant areas in which technology and its apps' advantages, benefits, and utility cannot be overemphasised. Gone are the days when migrants had to wait to apply for leave and travel back home to give money.
Now, several companies like ACE Money Transfer have made it extremely easy for migrants to send funds back anywhere worldwide within just a few clicks and 24/7.
These benefits and several more justify the reliance of migrants on technology.
Let's now learn about the top 10 mobile apps every expat must have while living in a foreign country.
Top 10 Mobile Apps Migrants Must Have
With some of the benefits and advantages of relying on technology already discussed briefly above, it is in the fitness of things to list some of the purpose-specific apps that global migrants must have while they are moving abroad or preparing to travel to a foreign country.
Currency Conversion Apps
Currency conversion apps are used to monitor the forex rates, and these apps are some of the must-have apps, particularly for migrants living abroad.
Listed below are some of the best currency conversion apps.
● Xe Currency Converter - best overall experience
● Currency Converter Plus - best user experience
● Easy Currency Converter - for quick conversions
● Currency Foreign Exchange Rate - for investors
● All Currency Converter
Some of the apps allow access to current currency exchange rates, like that of ACE Money Transfer, given the fluctuating and evolving nature of the rates.
Some apps, on the other hand, provide historical data so that migrants can monitor the trends in rate fluctuations and make an informed decision about when to initiate a transaction.
Language Translation Apps
Migrants need these apps as well because they might not know the language of their host country well. But while choosing one such app, they must ensure that the app offers real-time translation in several languages and that the app offers offline access to translations, in case the internet is out of reach, and also has voice recognition. Some of the best language translation apps are listed below.
● Google Translate - best overall
● DeepL Translate - best for accuracy
● Microsoft Translator - best for businesses
● iTranslate - best for extra features
● SayHi - best for live conversations
Navigation and Public Transportation Apps
Moving around in a foreign country without knowing the directions is fraught with dangers and perils. Therefore, migrants must have navigation apps installed on their phones. But they must ensure that the apps they use offer directions and arrival and departure timings and also show famous landmarks and make suggestions to visit certain places. Some popular apps are:
● Moovit
● TripGo
● Google Maps
● Citymapper
● Apple Maps
International Banking Apps
This is the one area which is fairly sensitive for the migrants because it involves one's hard-earned money. But these apps must offer money transfers across borders with safety with fewer service charges and allow access to authentic financial data from across the world.
Some famous international banking apps are listed below.
● Revolut
● Transferwise
● Monese
● Bunq
● Monzo
Social Connectivity Apps
Making connections abroad is vital for the migrants. Furthermore, staying connected with the family is extremely important to maintain good mental health and reduce stress. Certain apps serve the purpose of getting migrants connected with their families and also allowing them to connect with local expatriate community groups. Some important apps are:
● Facebook
● Instagram
● X (formerly Twitter)
● LinkedIn
● Snapchat
Job Search and Networking Apps
Migrants either have a job before travelling abroad or have to first reach and then find one. If the latter is the case, then they must have some apps that help them find jobs in the host country and also help them connect with professionals in the same field. Some of the apps serving these purposes are:
● LinkedIn
● Shapr
● Let's Lunch
● Mixer
● Bizzabo
Cultural Insight Apps
Migrants must realise that their excelling in a foreign country largely depends on how best they understand and immerse in the local culture. Therefore, they should get apps that educate them about the culture and festivities of their host country and also make recommendations about which cultural festivity to attend, where and at what time. A few such apps are:
● Touchable Earth
● Google Earth
● Better World Ed
● Newsela
● Oddizzi
Local Shopping and Delivery Apps
To maintain financial health and keep one's financials in the right place at the right time, migrants need to know where to go shopping and how they can have certain items delivered to their doorsteps in a hassle-free manner. Some of the following apps serve the purpose.
● Amazon
● DoorDash
● Getir
● Gopuff
● Instacart
It must also be remembered that certain businesses have launched their own shopping and delivery apps.
Accommodation and Real-Estate Apps
Migrants abroad face the challenge of finding accommodation, both rentals and for the long term. Searching for these physically can be a grave challenge, and then understanding a certain area's neighbourhood and drawing comparisons between different areas is a complicated and time-consuming task. But the following apps make it easier for the migrants.
● Zillow
● Xome Auctions
● Redfin
● Trulia
● Realtor
Emergency Services Locator Apps
Emergencies have the unpleasant habit of coming uninvited! Migrants abroad can come across any emergency during their stay abroad. Therefore, they must have apps that show them the locations of hospitals, police stations, and pharmacies and also help them connect to emergency services immediately. A few following apps may be of help in this regard.
● EchoSOS
● ELS
● Emergency Plus
● Here I Am, App
● Emergency Locator
These are some of the apps that global migrants must have when they are abroad. However, there are a few challenges with some of these apps.
First, some of these apps may not work in some countries of the world. Secondly, some apps have to be purchased as otherwise their full features would not work. Thirdly, some of these apps are designed separately for Android phones, while some are designed for iPhones.
Migrants must also determine their exact needs and then find an app of all the apps listed above that corresponds to their exact needs.
Wrapping Up
In the interconnected world of today, navigating the challenges of expatriate life becomes smoother with the right tools at your fingertips. These top 10 mobile apps for global expats not only alleviate the logistical burdens of living abroad but also cultivate a sense of belonging and community, no matter how far from home one might be. Whether it's managing finances across currencies, finding local friends, or just ordering a meal in a new city, there's an app tailored for every expatriate need. As the world continues to shrink digitally, these apps ensure that global citizens remain well-equipped, informed, and connected. Further, you can enhance your savings by making economic fund transfers at competitive exchange rates, and none other than ACE Money Transfer can assist you in this regard.
